Costa Mesa's Fire Explorer Graduates

13 graduate from Costa Mesa Fire Explorers program

 

Thirteen Costa Mesa Fire Explorers recently passed a 100-question written exam and a skills test to graduate from a two-month-long program designed to give young men and women, ages 16 to 21, an introduction to a career as a firefighter.
The graduates were Emmanuel "Franky" Bello, Evan Bruski, Justin Day, Luke Fragale, Santiago Herrera, Cody LaTendresse, Thai Lawrence, Thien Nguyen, Jack Reilly, Jordan Robinson, Jonathan Rosales, Rey Soria and Juan Tapia.
The Class of 2014—which met on seven consecutive Saturdays beginning in January—learned a wide variety of skills from Costa Mesa firefighters, including basic medical aid, hose and hydrant operations, throwing and climbing ladders, how to use breathing apparatus and hand and power tools, and fire station etiquette.
“There are a number of impressive Explorer programs available throughout California,” Costa Mesa Fire Chief Dan Stefano said. “But there is no question that the Costa Mesa Explorer Program offers the highest quality of instruction, leadership, and mentoring.”

Fire Capt. Rob Gagne oversees the Costa Mesa Fire Explorer program, which is part of the Boy Scouts of America.

“All of the instructors are firefighters who were previously explorers at one time or another,” Gagne said. “Having been in their shoes, we knew what it would take to motivate them and keep their interest to where they would want to succeed.”

Applications for the Class of 2015 will be accepted in the fall. Those interested in the program—which costs $25 to join and about $250 for uniforms and books—can e-mail Gagne at rob.gagne@costamesaca.gov to get on an interest list or via the Costa Mesa Firefighters website (www.cmfd.com) for more information.

Costa Mesa's Alley Repaving Ahead of Schedule

Alley repaving project expected to be finished two years ahead of schedule.

 

The Costa Mesa Public Services Department is on track to finish the rehabilitation of the city’s worst alleys two years ahead of schedule.
In 2012, the City Council set a goal of fixing 6.1 miles of alleys rated “very poor” by 2019. Over the past two fiscal years, the council approved nearly $3 million to rehabilitate 2.2 miles of alleys. An additional $1.2 million in alley funding has been proposed for the fiscal year 2014-15 budget, which would allow work to be completed on 1.13 miles of alleys.

If progress continues at this rate, the city’s most problematic alleys will have been rehabilitated by the end of 2017.

“To rehabilitate 6.1 miles of alleys in five years will be a significant achievement,” said Public Services Director Ernesto Munoz. “We will continue to work hard to make this happen for our residents and those in the business community.”

The alley initiative has been paid for by capital outlay funds, gas tax funds, and Community Development Block Grant funds.

(Below: Before and after photos of alley behind Fullerton Avenue.)
 

 

Costa Mesa's Preserve Our Neighborhoods Task Force

Mayor announces appointments to Preserve Our Neighborhoods Task Force Mayor Jim Righeimer announced this week the first seven appointments to his newly formed Preserve Our Neighborhoods Task Force, a group that will explore ways to lessen the negative impacts of group homes on Costa Mesa residential communities. The task force members are Jeremy Broderick, Kerry McCarthy, Scott McClane, Joe McGreevy, Lisa Morlan, Tim Sesler and Larry Weichman. “The city is committed to spending the resources needed to maintain the character of our Costa Mesa neighborhoods and their safety,” Mayor Righeimer said. “The City Council recently passed a nuisance ordinance that will help curb bad behavior in our neighborhoods, and we are looking to the task force to come up with other solutions that keep the integrity of our neighborhoods without discriminating against any group.” The task force will convene for the first time within the next few weeks and establish a regular meeting schedule.

Renew Your Costa Mesa Biz License Online

Costa Mesa business owners can now renew their business licenses online through the city’s website.

The new service, which began Monday, March 3rd allows those who already have business licenses to make their annual renewal online (www.costamesaca.gov/license). Business owners with expiring licenses only need their account number and PIN, which can be found on their renewal statement. They can also opt to have future renewal notices sent by e-mail.

The city expects to provide a similar online service by June for those applying for new business licenses.

Costa Mesa Needs Committee Volunteers

Volunteers sought for Finance Advisory, Fairview Park committees

The Costa Mesa City Council is seeking volunteers to serve on two committees: the Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee and the Finance Advisory Committee. Appointees will be filling the vacancies left by David Stiller, a community leader who recently passed away and served on those two committees.

Volunteers interested in serving on any of the committees need to complete a committee application form that is available on the city’s website (www.costamesaca.gov/application) or from the City Clerk’s Office. The application can be submitted online, mailed to Costa Mesa City Clerk, P.O. Box 1200, Costa Mesa, Calif. 92628-1200 or hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office at 77 Fair Drive. The application deadline is 5 p.m., Monday, March 31, 2014. Appointments are scheduled to be made at the April 15, 2014 City Council meeting. For more information, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (714) 754-5225 or cityclerk@costamesaca.gov.

The following provides more information on each committee:

Finance Advisory Committee

This committee provides advice to the City Council regarding events and issues that may affect the financial status of the city, including the review of short- and long-range financial planning and funding, financial documents and statements, and the city’s investment portfolio to ensure compliance with the approved investment policy. The committee has one regular-member vacancy. For more information, please contact the Finance Department at (714) 754-5243 or via e-mail (kathy.ulrich@costamesaca.gov).

Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee
This committee evaluates the Fairview Park Master Plan relative to community needs and makes Master Plan update recommendations to the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council for the addition, reduction, elimination, or modification of park users and master planned elements. The committee has one regular-member vacancy. For more information please contact Alfa Lopez at 714-754-5024 or via e-mail (alfa.lopez@costamesaca.gov).

Costa Mesa to Discuss $6.8 mil in Street Repairs with Community

Community meeting set for March 25 to discuss record $6.8 million in street repairs

 

The City of Costa Mesa has scheduled a community meeting on March 25 to inform residents and members of the business community about a record $6.8 million in street repairs that will occur within the next year.
At the meeting, city staff will review the scope of the project, the proposed schedule and anticipated traffic impacts from work that will result in 3.4-million square feet of streets to be repaved, along with 127,000 square feet of sidewalks and driveways, and 36,000 linear feet of curb and gutter repairs.

The work in North and Westside Costa Mesa is scheduled to begin in April and last nine months. (Click here for a map detailing where the roadwork will take place. One of the five areas is shown above.)

The street repairs come on the heels of major rehabilitation projects in Mesa Verde, Eastside Costa Mesa and the John Wayne Airport business community. Funding for this project was provided by gas tax, Measure M and General Funds.

The meeting on the North and Westside Costa Mesa street work will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 77 Fair Drive. For more information, call the city’s Construction Hotline at (714) 754-5029 or email Streetproject@costamesaca.gov.

Costa Mesa Promotes Water Conservation

City acquires grants to promote water conservation.

 

The City of Costa Mesa’s Public Services Department recently acquired two grants to replace grass with drought-tolerant materials along medians of Harbor Boulevard and in Brentwood Park.

The city received $88,763 from the Municipal Water District of Orange County as part of an incentive program to reduce irrigation runoff, increase water efficiency and provide cost savings to property owners.

The city will use the grants to remove grass from the medians along Harbor Boulevard as part of the Harbor Boulevard Beautification Project and replace turf with mulch and native ground cover as part of the Brentwood Park Development Project.

“We are continuing to take significant steps toward water conservation and efficient use of this precious resource. Many measures have already been implemented, but much more remains to be done,” said Public Services Director Ernesto Munoz.

The Municipal Water District of Orange County’s Turf Removal Program gives homeowners and commercial property owners $1 per square foot of irrigated turf removed under the condition that the turf is replaced with mulch, decomposed granite, rock or drought-tolerant ground cover.

Costa Mesa Receives $1mil Grant for Bike Trail

City receives $1 million grant for Westside bike trail

 

The City of Costa Mesa has been awarded a $1 million grant to design and construct a bicycle trail connecting West 19th Street to the Santa Ana River trail system.

The trail will run along West 19th Street beginning at Placentia Avenue and run through Talbert Regional Park before connecting to the bike path that runs along the Santa Ana River. 

Construction funding will be proposed in the Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget with construction expected to begin in early 2016. The trail's estimated cost is $1.7 million. The remaining matching funds will be sought from capital improvement and Air Quality Management District funds.

"This project will provide a convenient bicycle and pedestrian trail connection to the beach and Pacific Coast Highway from Westside Costa Mesa," said Public Services Director Ernesto Munoz. "In addition, the trail will serve as a convenient connection to employment areas in north Costa Mesa via the Santa Ana River Trail."

The grant came from federal Congestion Management & Air Quality funds awarded through Bicycle Corridor Improvement Program by Orange County Transportation Authority.